“Well, we still have to prove the theory.” L’zar shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
Maybe I really did hurt him. Cheyenne studied her father, waiting for him to continue that thought.
“If we can replicate it, we’ll have our answer.”
“I’m not making that trip again just so you can prove yourself right.”
“No.” He looked at her and narrowed his eyes above a thin smile. “The next time you make the crossing, I’ll make it with you. There’s plenty we can do here until then to help us learn more about this discovery.”
“Like using this baby to find the rest of Lex’s damn machines.” Persh’al waved the activator around before sticking it behind his ear.
Cheyenne turned to Corian. “I thought you guys had already rounded everything up?”
The nightstalker shrugged. “Byrd and Lumil did find his base of operations, more or less.”
Lumil snorted. “That lizard’s got some nasty-ass habits, that’s for sure.”
Corian ignored her. “But I’m not convinced they found everything. Especially after your apartment was attacked last night.”
“Great. So we have more fun bug machines to look forward to.”
“What the hell?” Persh’al slapped the side of his head and scowled at the floor. “Come on!”
Everyone else stared at him until he finally ripped the silver coil off the back of his ear and stormed toward Cheyenne. “Try it again.”
“What?”
“Just put the damn thing on and tell me what happens, kid.”
She took the activator from him and stuck it tentatively behind her own ear. It gave her a little pinch and a buzz, but that was it. “Nothing’s happening.”
“Well, you certainly don’t look like a drow who just crossed over,” L’zar muttered.
“Huh.” Cheyenne pulled up her drow magic and made the transformation again. The instant her skin settled into its purple-gray tone, a burst of magic flared behind her eyes. The wards around the warehouse lit up in brilliant, shimmering lines, and she blinked quickly against the glare in her vision. A single thought toned down the brilliance. “Yeah, that did it.”
“Are you kidding me?” Persh’al snarled.
Corian chuckled. Lumil stepped toward the blue troll and clapped a hand on his shoulder. “You drew the short stick on this one, bud.”
Persh’al shrugged away from her and shook his head. “I could rig us all up for life with that thing, and the kid’s the only one who gets to use it.”
“I don’t mind helping you out.”
He glanced at Cheyenne and narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, figures.” Then he stomped across the warehouse and slumped into his office chair, scooting toward his monitor to start working on much less advanced technology he could use.
Byrd snorted. “Who’d have thought, right? L’zar’s halfling kid is the only magical Earthside who gets the best of both worlds—magic and serious new tech. Shit, that might just make you the most powerful being on this side of the Border.”
Lumil punched him in the arm and shook her head.
“What? It’s true.”
L’zar waved the goblins aside with a small laugh of his own. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. I’m not ready to hand over the reins just yet.” Byrd laughed nervously, and L’zar looked to meet Cheyenne’s gaze, his smile a lot more concerned now. “So don’t get any ideas.”
That’s what he thinks he is, huh? The most powerful being in this world. Not after I lit him on fire and threw him across the room.
“You can take it off now, kid,” Corian said.
Cheyenne spun and eyed Persh’al’s complicated setup. The activator lit up in her vision with the scrolling lines of data she could now read, even without looking at any of his monitors. “I was serious about helping. Honestly, with this thing, I’d love to get my hands on what Persh’al’s got goin’ on in that system.”
“Don’t even think about it,” the troll shouted at her. “My rig, my rules.”
Lumil burst out laughing.
“Give him some time,” Corian added. “He’ll get over his resentment, and then I’m sure he’d appreciate whatever help you could give him.”
“Which he’ll accept either way.” L’zar said it loud enough for Persh’al to hear, and the implication was perfectly clear.
Cheyenne turned back to her father, who’d closed his eyes again with a distracted smile. Meaning, Persh’al won’t keep me away from his system if L’zar orders him to let me have a go. Why do these guys put up with his shit?
“But not tonight.” L’zar’s golden eyes glowed when he opened them again and settled his gaze on the halfling.
“Is there anything else you can tell us about your trip that Persh’al can’t?” Corian asked.
“Not really.”
“All right, then we’ll let him go over everything on his own. You need to get some rest.”
Cheyenne snorted. “You have no idea.”
“We’ll let you know when we’re ready to move forward.” L’zar nodded at Corian, and the nightstalker took a few steps back before summoning another portal.
“Take that damn thing off, kid,” Persh’al called from behind his center monitor. “Keep it around for emergencies, but don’t go around Virginia, trying to see everything at once with your fancy new gear. You’d light up magical frequencies like a detonated bomb, you hear me?”
“Yeah, I got it.” She plucked the activator from behind her ear and grimaced at the sparking tingle she felt in her teeth as it disconnected. Then she shoved the silver coil into her pocket and turned toward Corian’s open portal.
Byrd approached her with her backpack dangling from his fingers and nodded. “Glad you made it back in one piece, halfling. You had us wondering for a minute.”
“I’m not going down that easy. Thanks.” She took the pack from him and nodded.
Corian gestured toward his portal, and she shot L’zar another fleeting look before joining the nightstalker at the shimmering oval of dark light.
“He’s fine,” Corian muttered. “You did well, kid. Don’t let the other bullshit cover that up, huh?”
“Yeah, okay.” What do I say to that? Cheyenne nodded, stepped through the portal, and stood in the center of her living room. The portal closed behind her.
Ember was
